Editorial: Why is Syria America's concern?

Secretary of State John Kerry, left, and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, right, appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to advance President Barack Obama's request for congressional authorization for military intervention in Syria, a response to last month's alleged sarin gas attack in the Syrian civil war, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013. Lawmakers are returning a week early from recess for the first public hearing about U.S. plans for military action to punish Syrian President Bashar Assad as President Obama seeks to convince skeptical Americans and their representatives to act following the deadly gas attack outside Damascus. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

AGN Editorial

When Congress gets back to work Monday, lawmakers will likely face a tough and difficult dilemma: Should the U.S. intervene in the ongoing crisis in Syria?

The Obama administration has been making the case for military intervention the past few days, with the debate heating up Tuesday in the U.S. Senate.

Whether the U.S. should take such a drastic step is the primary question, but there are several other related questions that need specific and definitive answers before Congress supports such an initiative.

■ What is America’s interest in involving itself a deadly civil war?

■ Are national security interests really at risk because of conflict in Syria, as the Obama administration claims? If so, how?

■ The president drew a “red line” against the use of chemical weapons in Syria. However, dictators, despots and tyrants have used similar despicable methods to gain or maintain political and governmental power, and America has been silent. Did the president back himself into a corner with his “red line” ultimatum, and should the U.S. military be used haphazardly only to backup this comment?

■ Will “limited” action by the military degrade the capabilities of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad? Will a restricted U.S. response fail to significantly downgrade the current government, serving only to embolden the Syrian president?

■ What of the opposition to the Syrian government? Who or what is exactly leading these forces? Are they unified in their fight? Will these forces reflect America’s best interests, or — in time — prove to be a detriment, if not worse, to America?

■ Why is the president seeking congressional approval? The Obama administration had no such approval before taking similar military action in Libya. Why seek it now, especially since there are rumblings the administration will forge ahead in Syria no matter how Congress votes.

Ultimately, this should be of upmost importance before the administration commits any segment of the military, boots on the ground or not, to another war in the Middle East — what is America’s interest?

Before the military again becomes the world’s policeman, Congress needs an answer.